When it was time to leave, I had the boat idling thru the no-wake in party cove, I stand up and tell Andrew (the boy), "you're in my seat". He looks all puzzled but he stands up. I tell him "Don't hit anything" and sit down on the seat where he was. His puzzlement increased and he starts off to the front seats. I'm like "ANDREW! Drive the damn boat!" He's like "for real?!?". Sure, why not.
I had only planned on letting him idle out of the no-wake zone, but I saw that the lake was pretty empty, so I told him once we cross the buoys, to run the throttle up to around 3000 RPM. I think if I had yelled BOO the kid would have shit himself. He did real good though. I gave him landmarks to steer by, and I told him to keep his head on a swivel. We got overhauled by a speedboat (I seen it coming) and that kinda rattled him a bit. I told him that he has to know whats around the boat, that includes behind him.
I took a couple of pictures of him and his dad, and I had a pleasant ride up to the boat ramp. I totally forgot to tell him to idle down when we hit the no-wake zone at the boat ramp, but the kid apparently pays attention and did it himself without me having to tell him. Smart lad. I look over to him and ask, "Do you think you can land this thing on the dock". He instantly says "NO!". Good, he knows his limitations. I tell him "get us up near the dock, I'll take over from there".
According to his dad, driving the boat was all he talked about for the whole night, including having to tell his grandparents. I think I might have set the boating hook in this one. Funny thing is... neither one of my sons (26 and 21) have even SEEN the boat. They always have more 'intersting' things to do than go boating with the old man.
Tim
PS, the kid aways scowls. That the closest I have ever seen to an actual smile on his face. He's like a human grumpy cat.
